Method and device for providing an aircraft with a flight trajectory

ABSTRACT

The device ( 1 ) comprises first means ( 2 ) for defining a main trajectory, which is followed by the aircraft, and an optional trajectory which deviates from the main trajectory, which exhibits at least one common point shared with said main trajectory and which is able to be followed by the aircraft if said trajectory is activated, second means ( 3 ) for automatically determining a decision point which indicates the last position of the aircraft along the main trajectory, where the optional trajectory can still be activated so as to allow the aircraft to follow it, third means ( 6 ) for automatically presenting the decision point to a pilot of the aircraft, and fourth means ( 9 ) which are actuatable, allowing a pilot to activate said optional trajectory.

The present invention relates to a method and a device for providing an aircraft, in particular a military transport plane, with a flight trajectory, as well as to an automatic guidance system comprising such a device.

According to the invention, said method is noteworthy in that:

-   a) a main trajectory, which is followed by the aircraft, and at     least one optional trajectory which deviates from said main     trajectory, which exhibits at least one common point shared with     said main trajectory and which is able to be followed by the     aircraft if said trajectory is activated is defined; -   b) a decision point which indicates the last position of the     aircraft along said main trajectory, where said optional trajectory     can still be activated so as to allow the aircraft to follow it is     determined automatically; -   c) said decision point is presented automatically to a pilot of the     aircraft; and -   d) the pilot can, at least as a function of this presentation,     activate said optional trajectory.

Thus, by virtue of the invention, the pilot of the aircraft knows the last point (decision point), where he can still activate said optional trajectory so as to allow the aircraft to follow it. Up to said decision point, the pilot is therefore presented with two alternatives allowing him:

-   -   either to continue to follow the initial main trajectory, this         requiring no particular action (or activation) on his part;     -   or to activate said optional trajectory, so as to follow the         latter.

In a preferred embodiment, to determine said decision point:

-   -   on the basis of said common point, successively, for each point         following said main trajectory, in the direction of flight of         the aircraft, a check is carried out to verify whether this         point also belongs to said optional trajectory; and     -   as soon as a point no longer belongs to said optional         trajectory, account is taken of the previous point which still         belonged to said optional trajectory and this previous point is         regarded as decision point.

It will be noted that the present invention applies to any type of flight trajectory (as regards main and optional trajectories). In particular, it applies:

-   -   to a two-dimensional flight trajectory. In this case,         advantageously, a check is carried out to verify, in a lateral         plane, whether a point of the main trajectory also belongs to         the optional trajectory, so as to implement the aforesaid         preferred embodiment; and     -   to a three-dimensional flight trajectory. In this case,         advantageously, a check is carried out to verify, in the whole         of space, whether a point of the main trajectory also belongs to         the optional trajectory, so as to implement the aforesaid         preferred embodiment.

In a particular embodiment, if in step d) the pilot activates said optional trajectory which then becomes the new trajectory followed by the aircraft, the main trajectory initially followed by the aircraft is transformed into a new optional trajectory.

Thus, the pilot can choose to swap the main route and the optional route, and can do so at any moment up to said decision point. This makes it possible in particular to go back after an activation made in error. Naturally, beyond said decision point, only the flight trajectory chosen, from among said main and optional trajectories, is preserved.

The present invention also relates to a device for providing aircraft with a flight trajectory.

According to the invention, said device is noteworthy in that it comprises:

-   -   first means for defining a main trajectory, which is followed by         the aircraft, and an optional trajectory which deviates from         said main trajectory, which exhibits at least one common point         shared with said main trajectory and which is able to be         followed by the aircraft if said trajectory is activated;     -   second means for automatically determining a decision point         which indicates the last position of the aircraft along said         main trajectory, where said optional trajectory can still be         activated so as to allow the aircraft to follow it;     -   third means for automatically presenting said decision point to         a pilot of the aircraft; and     -   fourth means which are actuatable, allowing a pilot to activate         said optional trajectory.

Moreover, advantageously, said third means may comprise a head-up display screen and/or a head-down display screen.

Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, said fourth means comprise interactive means of control. This preferred embodiment allows simplified activation and uses modern interactive means of control which are very efficacious.

The present invention also relates to an automatic guidance system for an aircraft, of the type comprising:

-   -   a set of information sources;     -   an auxiliary source of information able to provide a flight         trajectory;     -   a central unit for automatically determining orders for steering         the aircraft, with the aid of information received from said set         of information sources and a flight trajectory provided by said         auxiliary source of information; and     -   means of actuation of controlled members of the aircraft, to         which the steering orders determined by said central unit are         applied automatically.

According to the invention, said automatic guidance system is noteworthy in that said auxiliary source of information comprises a device of the aforementioned type, for providing the aircraft with a flight trajectory.

The figures of the appended drawing will elucidate the manner in which the invention may be embodied. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

FIG. 1 is the schematic diagram of a device in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 diagrammatically shows a display in accordance with a first embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a graph relating to a second embodiment.

FIG. 4 diagrammatically shows a display in accordance with the second embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is the schematic diagram of a guidance system in accordance with the invention.

The device 1 in accordance with the invention and represented diagrammatically in FIG. 1 is intended to provide an aircraft A, in particular a military transport plane, with a flight trajectory.

According to the invention, said device 1 which is carried on board the aircraft A, comprises:

-   -   standard means 2, for defining a main trajectory TP which is         followed by the aircraft A, as specified for example hereinbelow         with reference to FIG. 5, and an optional trajectory TO which         exhibits at least one common point (and generally an entire         common stretch TC) shared with said main trajectory TP and which         is able to be followed by the aircraft A if said trajectory is         activated;     -   means 3 which are connected by a link 4 to said means 2 and         which are able to automatically determine a decision point 5         which indicates the last position of the aircraft A along said         trajectory TP which it follows, where said optional trajectory         TO can still be activated (as specified hereinbelow) so as to         allow the aircraft A to then follow this optional trajectory TO         (instead of following said main trajectory TP);     -   display means 6 which are connected by a link 7 to said means 3         and which are able to automatically present said decision point         5 on a display screen 8 specified hereinbelow, to a pilot of the         aircraft A; and     -   standard means 9, which are connected by a link 10 to said means         3, which are actuatable and which allow a pilot to activate said         optional trajectory TO. Following such an activation, the         aircraft A takes account in standard fashion of said optional         trajectory TO (in place of the main trajectory TP), in         particular for its guidance and/or for prediction computations         (transit time, fuel available, speed, etc.).

Said decision point 5 can also be provided by said means 3 to other user devices (not represented), for example by way of a link 11.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said display screen 8 may be a head-up screen, for example of HUD (“Head Up Display”) type, or a navigation screen, for example of ND (“Navigation Display”) type, as represented in FIGS. 2 and 4.

Such a navigation screen ND illustrates the situation of the aircraft A (lateral flight plan) in a horizontal plane and comprises:

-   -   a symbol 12 illustrating the current position of the aircraft A;     -   a plot 13 showing the main trajectory TP in the horizontal         plane, that is to say the main route which is followed by the         aircraft A;     -   a standard graduation 14 by angular deviation; and     -   a standard graduation 15 by distance.

According to the invention, said display means 6 display, moreover, on this navigation screen ND:

-   -   a plot 16 showing the optional trajectory TO; and     -   a characteristic symbol 17 illustrating the position of said         decision point 5.

Thus, by virtue of the device 1 in accordance with the invention, the pilot of the aircraft A knows the final point (decision point 5 which is located by the characteristic symbol 17 on the display screen 8), where he can still activate said optional trajectory TO so as to allow the aircraft A to follow it. Up to said decision point 5, the pilot is therefore presented with two alternatives. He can in fact:

-   -   either continue to follow the main trajectory TP, carrying out         no specific action for this purpose;     -   or make the aircraft A follow said optional trajectory TO, by         activating this optional trajectory TO with the aid of said         means 9.

In a particular embodiment, if the pilot activates said optional trajectory TO which then becomes the new trajectory followed by the aircraft A, he can moreover transform (for example also with the aid of said means 9) the main trajectory TP initially followed by the aircraft A into a new optional trajectory.

Thus, the pilot can (by choice) swap the main route TP and the optional route TO, and can do so at any moment up to said decision point 5. This makes it possible in particular to go back after an activation made in error. Naturally, beyond said decision point 5, only the flight trajectory chosen, from the main trajectory TP and the optional trajectory TO, is preserved.

As may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the decision point 5 corresponds to the point of divergence of the two trajectories TP and TO which are shared throughout the stretch TC which goes from the origin up to said decision point 5.

To determine said decision point 5, said means 2 carry out the following operations:

-   -   onwards of said common point (in this instance the point of         origin of the flight or, if the aircraft A has already commenced         its flight, the point relating to the current position of the         aircraft A, illustrated by the symbol 12), successively, for         each point (for example each waypoint) along said main         trajectory TP, in the direction of flight of the aircraft A,         they verify whether this point also belongs to said optional         trajectory TO; and     -   as soon as a point no longer belongs to said optional trajectory         TO, they take account of the previous point which still belonged         to said optional trajectory TO and they regard this previous         point as decision point 5.

This situation is represented for a two-dimensional trajectory in FIG. 2, in which is moreover represented a particular waypoint 18 (illustrated by a symbol 22) on the optional trajectory TO.

It is known that, when the two flight trajectories (main trajectory TP and optional trajectory TO) are three-dimensional trajectories, it may happen that these two trajectories TO and TP diverge in the vertical plane, as represented in FIG. 3, before diverging in the lateral plane, as illustrated on the corresponding navigation screen 8 represented in FIG. 4. This example is based on the two-dimensional trajectory presented in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates the vertical profiles of the two trajectories TO and TP, namely the superposition of the vertical cuts along the two corresponding routes. The two routes pass through a point 19 (corresponding to the decision point 5 of the two-dimensional example in FIG. 2) in the lateral plane, but at different altitudes. In this example, the decision point 5 corresponds to the point of divergence in the vertical plane which is situated upstream of the point 19 (in the direction of flight) as represented in FIG. 4. This point 19 is also illustrated by a symbol 22 on the display screen 8.

In this three-dimensional example, the means 2 determine the decision point 5 by implementing a method similar to that stated above in respect of a two-dimensional trajectory.

Naturally, it is also possible to present the trajectories TO and TP, as well as the decision point 5 of the last example, on a standard display screen showing trajectories in three dimensions.

Additionally, in a particular embodiment, said means of actuation 9 form part of a control set 20 comprising an interactive display screen. This may be a specific screen or the display screen 8, the display means 6 then being connected by a link 21 to said means 9, as represented in FIG. 1.

An interactive screen 8 such as this is for example of the known liquid crystal LCD (“Liquid Crystal Display”) type. An interactive screen such as this comprises objects (ranges, alphanumeric values, etc.) which are responsive to the presence of a cursor. The means 9 then comprise cursor control means (not represented specifically) making it possible to displace the cursor in such a way as to bring it onto a responsive object so as to designate it. When a responsive object such as this is designated, it is emphasized, in particular through a change of appearance such as a change of color or highlighting. The execution of a function associated with a responsive object is triggered by the validation of this previously designated responsive object. Consequently, said cursor control means comprise, for example:

-   -   an actuatable means of displacement, preferably in the form of a         spherical mouse or trackball, which is able to displace the         cursor over the display screen 8 in such a way as to designate a         responsive object; and     -   an actuatable means of validation, for example a key, which is         able to validate a responsive object which is designated by said         cursor in such a way as to execute the function which is         associated with said responsive object.

In the present case, the display screen 8 comprises at least one responsive object relating to the decision point 5. The selection of this responsive object (designation and validation) affords access to a menu listing the actions possible at this decision point 5. This menu is contextualized as a function of the properties of the decision point 5. In particular, for said decision point 5, an “activate the optional trajectory” command is made available. Said cursor control means therefore makes it possible to activate this command by designating and by validating this responsive object.

This preferred embodiment which allows simplified activation, uses modern interactive means of control that are very efficacious.

In a preferred embodiment, the device 1 in accordance with the invention forms part of an onboard automatic guidance system SG represented diagrammatically in FIG. 5. Said automatic guidance system SG which makes the aircraft A follow a flight trajectory automatically, in particular a main trajectory TP, comprises in standard fashion:

-   -   a set 24 of information sources;     -   an auxiliary source of information 23 able to provide a flight         trajectory for the aircraft A;     -   a central unit 25 which is connected by a link 26A to said set         24 and by a link 26B to said auxiliary source of information 23,         and which is designed to automatically determine, with the aid         of information received from said set 24 of information sources         and a current flight trajectory provided by said auxiliary         source of information 23, orders for steering the aircraft A         allowing the latter to follow said current flight trajectory;         and     -   means of actuation 27 of controlled members 28 (control surface,         etc.) of the aircraft A, to which the steering orders determined         by said central unit 25 are applied automatically via a link 29.

According to the invention, said auxiliary source of information 23 comprises the aforesaid device 1 in accordance with the invention, for providing a current flight trajectory (namely either a main trajectory TP, or an optional trajectory TO after its activation), said link 26B possibly comprising (or corresponding to) the link 11 of FIG. 1. 

1. A method for providing an aircraft (A) with a flight trajectory, wherein: a) a main trajectory (TP), which is followed by the aircraft (A), and at least one optional trajectory (TO) which deviates from said main trajectory (TP), which exhibits at least one common point (TC) shared with said main trajectory (TP) and which is able to be followed by the aircraft (A) if said trajectory is activated is defined; b) a decision point (5) which indicates the last position of the aircraft (A) along said main trajectory (TP), where said optional trajectory (TO) can still be activated so as to allow the aircraft (A) to follow it is determined automatically; c) said decision point (5) is presented automatically to a pilot of the aircraft (A); and d) the pilot can, at least as a function of this presentation, activate said optional trajectory (TO).
 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, to determine said decision point (5): on the basis of said common point, successively, for each point following said main trajectory (TP), in the direction of flight of the aircraft (A), a check is carried out to verify whether this point also belongs to said optional trajectory (TO); and as soon as a point no longer belongs to said optional trajectory (TO), account is taken of the previous point which still belonged to said optional trajectory (TO) and this previous point is regarded as decision point (5).
 3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a check is carried out to verify, in a lateral plane, whether a point of the main trajectory (TP) also belongs to the optional trajectory (TO).
 4. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein a check is carried out to verify, in the whole of space, whether a point of the main trajectory (TP) also belongs to the optional trajectory (TO).
 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, if in step d) the pilot activates said optional trajectory (TO) which then becomes the new trajectory followed by the aircraft (A), the main trajectory (TP) initially followed by the aircraft (A) is transformed into a new optional trajectory.
 6. A device for providing an aircraft (A), with a flight trajectory, which device comprises, first means (2) for defining a main trajectory (TP), which is followed by the aircraft (A), and an optional trajectory (TO) which deviates from said main trajectory (TP), which exhibits at least one common point (TC) shared with said main trajectory (TP) and which is able to be followed by the aircraft (A) if said trajectory is activated; second means (3) for automatically determining a decision point (5) which indicates the last position of the aircraft (A) along said main trajectory (TO), where said optional trajectory (TO) can still be activated so as to allow the aircraft (A) to follow it; third means (6) for automatically presenting said decision point (5) to a pilot of the aircraft (A); and fourth means (9) which are actuatable, allowing a pilot to activate said optional trajectory (TO).
 7. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said third means (6) comprise a head-up display screen (8).
 8. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said third means (6) comprise a head-down display screen (8).
 9. The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fourth means (9) comprise interactive means of control.
 10. An automatic guidance system for an aircraft (A), said guidance system (SG) comprising: a set (24) of information sources; an auxiliary source of information (23) able to provide a flight trajectory; a central unit (25) for automatically determining orders for steering the aircraft (A), with the aid of information received from said set (2) of information sources and a flight trajectory (TP, TO) provided by said auxiliary source of information (23); and means of actuation (27) of controlled members (28) of the aircraft (A), to which the steering orders determined by said central unit (25) are applied automatically, wherein said central auxiliary source of information (23) comprises a device (1) such as specified under claim 6, for providing a flight trajectory (TP, TO).
 11. An aircraft, which comprises a guidance system (SG) such as that specified under claim
 10. 12. An aircraft, which comprises a device (1) such as that specified under claim
 6. 13. An aircraft, which comprises a device (1) capable of implementing the method specified under claim
 1. 